Establishing domicile in US....having never lived there

[PA_and_Geek 0]

Hi,

I've just submitted the I-130 petition for my spouse, at the US embassy in London.

We are just researching next steps and we've got a few questions that we aren't quite sure about, and we are hoping that one of you guys may be able to help.

I have dual citizenship, I was born in the UK, and obtained US citizenship through my parents. Me and my husband decided we want to relocate to the US and so last year I got my US passport. Since then we have opened a US bank account, got my social security number and have ended our tenancy agreement and living with family while we wait to hear back about the visa.
I have never actually lived in the US and wondered what other evidence would help our case when the question regarding 'domicile' comes up as clearly I have never lived there. Has anyone had experience with this?

Also, we both have jobs here in the UK and have savings, but not sufficient amounts to meet the financial requirements (which we believe would be about $60,000 without a US salary, for just the 2 of us based on the poverty guidelines http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf )

We are hoping to both move to the US together when the visa is approved. We have family that is happy to be a joint sponsor, is this something that anyone has been through and what would be required or is it better to get the funds together than a joint sponsor?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Edited August 6, 2014 by PA_and_Geek

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You won't be able to establish domicile as you have never lived in the US. You will need to show, instead, intent to (re)establish domicile, by showing concrete plans to move, like renting or buying a house, a job offer or having attended interviews, enrolling kids in school (if applicable), etc. A joint sponsor will work fine. Good luck!

[Boiler 45,673]

The times I have seen a similar situation the USC has moved first.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi,

I've just submitted the I-130 petition for my spouse, at the US embassy in London.

We are just researching next steps and we've got a few questions that we aren't quite sure about, and we are hoping that one of you guys may be able to help.

I have dual citizenship, I was born in the UK, and obtained US citizenship through my parents. Me and my husband decided we want to relocate to the US and so last year I got my US passport. Since then we have opened a US bank account, got my social security number and have ended our tenancy agreement and living with family while we wait to hear back about the visa.

I have never actually lived in the US and wondered what other evidence would help our case when the question regarding 'domicile' comes up as clearly I have never lived there. Has anyone had experience with this?

Also, we both have jobs here in the UK and have savings, but not sufficient amounts to meet the financial requirements (which we believe would be about $60,000 without a US salary, for just the 2 of us based on the poverty guidelines http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf )

We are hoping to both move to the US together when the visa is approved. We have family that is happy to be a joint sponsor, is this something that anyone has been through and what would be required or is it better to get the funds together than a joint sponsor?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

The embassy website covers the domicile topic with some detail. http://london.usembassy.gov/faq_i864_domicile.html

Other I-864 topics from London http://london.usembassy.gov/faqs-i864.html